Inflatable sound producing animal toy



April 7', 1953 KWASNIK ETAL 2,633,665

INFLATABLE SOUND PRODUCING ANIMAL TOY Filed Aug. 2, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET -1 j f E 25 INVENTORS IRVING KwAsmK BY LEOPOLD Enozwme MMHAZL April 7, 1953 1. KWASNIK ETAL INFLATABLE SOUND PR ODUCING ANIMAL TOY QSHEETS-Sl-IEET 2 Filed Aug. 2, 1950 IRVING y LEOPOLD mmvron: KwAsnm Euozwmc.

ANUfi/VEY Patented Apr. 7, 1953 2,633,665 INFLATABLE SOUNgJgtODUCING ANIMAL Irving Kwasnik, Passaic, N. J and Leopold Endiweig, New York, N. Y.

, amiuationna usta1sso, SerialNo. 177,164 7 s 3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in hollow toys adapted to be inflated and having sound producing means, and, more particularly, the aim is to provide a novel and valuable such toy, as one of the doll or animal type, wherein the sound producing means is actuated by the movement of an air stream therethrough with said air stream one which wholly interiorly offthe toy passes from one portion thereof to another during the sound making. By a toy of the doll type is meant one which generally reproduces or suggests the human corpus; and bya-toy of the animal type is meant one which generally reproduces or suggests the corpus of an animal other than a human'one, as the body of a dog, an elephant, a lion, a bear, or the like.

Theobject of the invention, more specifically, is to provide, in a toy of the kind above described, a relatively inexpensive yet highly practicable arrangement such that the toy when inflated is an exceedingly faithful reproduction of the corpus which it is supposed to represent, with this reproduction a full three dimensional one all over the corpus of the toy.

This object is in part attained by constructing the toy so that the same incorporates an outer non-stretchable skin but not necessarily an airtight one, and an inner air-tight skin stretchable under inflation, and by so constituting said inner skin that when it isair inflated its own stretchability coacts with the non-stretchable distensibilityof the outer skin to round out tautly all portions of the latter as predetermined; with such predetermination, in the case, for instance, of an animal, patterned on the actual contours of the body and body adjuncts, that is, the corpus, of the animal. Such body adjuncts; asthat expression is used herein, would include the four legs and the head of a four-legged animal, or the two legs and the two arms and the head of a twolegged animal.

Said object is in further part attained by constructing said inner skin of two or more sheet material pieces, one piece, for example, providing a main bag for forming the body and four of the aforesaid body adjuncts of the toy when said main bag is inflated, and the other piece an auxiliary bag for forming the fifth of said body adjuncts when said auxiliary bag is inflated.

Said object is in further part attained by connecting directly and in an air-tight manner a fitted edge adjacent small opening left in the flrst named bag with a fitted edge adjacent small opening left in the second-named bag; and, in-

2 cidental to thus connecting said openings, securing the sound producing means in place in-- side the inner skin andiin extension through both said openings so that one end portion of said meansprojects into one bag and the opposite end portion of said means projects into theother bag. I

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and tothe appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth. In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig-1 is a detached perspective view of the said auxiliary bag.

Fig. 2 is a detached perspective view of the said main bag. 7

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the sound productive device.

Fig. 5 is a frontal elevation of the inflatable inner portion of the toy in collapsed condition.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but illustrates the device in inflated condition. Fig. '7 is a frontal view of the completely as sembled toy in expanded condition. I Fig. 8 is a sectional view' on line 8-8 of Fig. '7. Fig. 9 is a sectional view on line 9-9 of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a perspective view on a large scale of a modified form of sound producing means.

Fig.'11 is a large scale, fragmentary view simi: lar to a portion of Fig. 8 but illustrating the-modi-;

T fied means.

' Referring now to the drawings more indetail', the toy shown, but merely illustratively and solely byway of example, is reproductive. ofthe ani-' m'al toy generally called a Teddy bear; and, ac-,- cordingly, the above-mentioned'main and auxiliary bags have outlines to conform with the; features of such a toy. .As here shown the inflatable portion of the toy is made up of a main bag l5 and one auxiliary bag l6, although it will be understood that in other instances more than one auxiliary bag would be utilized. The main bag [5 comprises a one-piece molded formation. of rubber, plastic or other stretchable or expand able material, see Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 3, said bag is formed with arm and leg portions and. also with a narrow open end neck portion H. The auxiliary bag [6, which is formed in the same manner as the main bag, is adapted to form the head of the toyand is outlined accordingly;

Said auxiliary bag is also provided with a narrow open end neck portion 13. At this point it is to be mentioned that whereas the bags l5 and I6 preferably are formed each in one piece, they can, if desired, be formed each of two or more sheets of stretchable material having their perimetral edges suitably secured together.

Referring againztoczEig; 2, one off the leg por tions of main bag I5 is provided at its end with a small extension or nozzle 29 by which air can be forced into the toy as will appear hereinafter:

Since the illustrative embodiment of them vention shown in the drawings and now being described is a toy bear, and the head of such an animal is roughly pear-shapedandtaperin'g'toa ward its neck-remote end, and said head iselongate not only in the directionioffsaiditaperrhut;

also in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the torsooftlie animal, the auxiliary bag I5 pursuant to the inventiornis provided with the side: elevational as pectwh'en defiated a's shown" in Fig. I; so that when said-bag I B at' itsneck portion' was secured asshortly to described to'themain bag F at its neek portion I I i; the hat of said' bag I 85 isdisiposed at' -right anglesnto 'the fiat of I the mairrbag: I5 as shown in Fig. 5, the smaller or snout end of the bag I6 being the 'near'endthereofin Fig: .5.

The soundproducingmeans is-as a whole des' ignat'ed I9; seeEigs; 4: and 8-, the same being shown as 'a small elongate assemblage of"parts of a Well' known'k-ind; including areed 2i: and-a reed 'carrier" Also, atubular support 23% for the sound: producing: means is provided; such support being open at'both ends'jhaving the'reed" carrier 22 suitably fixed ini a partition 2 5 intermediate its ends.

In order t'o=con'nect. together in an air-tight manner the neck portions of the inner skin main.

bag: I5 andof the inner skin: auxiliary bagl6, thereby to lock the sound? producing" means JI 9? in place between said neck portions and this=ini a wawtol'constitute the: interiorfofzthe tub'ul'ansupport: 236' as the sole airpa'ssageway betweerr the interiors? off said two bags, the: neck portions i! and I8 are made each of: aaconsiderably shorter circumferential length than that: of the tubular support 23. isinsertedwell: up into-the neck portion iii of auxiliary bag IE,- the said neck portion tightly grips the. support; and when. the. neck portion I! of themainibag ldislengagedover neck-eportion:. I8, an even.tighter gripontubular support 23.-'is afiiorded,.seeigslfi;Sandi 'l'idesireman: adhesive or elastic band not here shown,,.may b.e.

clampedover. the neck portions If! and; Iii. even moresecurelyjtoclamp them on. the, tubular. sup-a portl23;

Forinfiation of'tliebags. I5; Ifilby breath exhalation, as by some member ofthe' childs fam- 115:; the. already mentioned. air inflation device is.

provided. This, in, the present case shown. as" placed near the' heel portion. of the foot of the Thus; when the tubular support 28 4 ready, in deflated condition, to be enclosed in an outer skin 26.

The sheet material used for making the outer skin 25 is desirably a textile material having a plush-like outer pile as indicated in Figs. 7 and 8. The said outer skin 26 is so made, from as many specially patterned cut pieces of. said material as required; and? with these cuts. pieces interconnected by as" many seams as required; in order to include in said outer skin a torso subdivision, a head subdivision, two arm or fore leg subdivisions andatwo hind legs subdivisions all adapted to exhibit exceptionally natural rotundities when distended as predetermined. These outer skin subdivisions; turtherfore, are so individually proportion'ed and relatively arranged that, after propeninsertiominthe outer skin of the bags I5, It in as yet uninflated condition, and following closing up of the one seam of the outer skin left unclosed pending insertion of the inner skin into theouter' skin; fulll inflation: of r the: inner: skin would cause thealatten to becomerdisposedzas= in=- dicated irrFigs:fli'andfifandas arconsequence the: outer skin would become distendedias'alsot shown: in said figures; thus; to;have? al'11.the:- outer; skim subdivisions exhibitthe intended exceptionally) natural rotundities As will be understood, the; just; mentioned; proper insertion'of. thezbagsdi IBiinto theout'er: skin 2'6 would: be an insertion. of? thezformerrintot the latter suoh'that (the principalzoli torso-portion of themain bag it Would beiinither-torso subdia vision of the outer skimthe two:arm,or?foreleg: portions of said mairrbagi'wouldz be-girrthe two arm" or: fore leg subdivisions: of; thee outerr'sking, thetwo hind legportionseof said mainzbagtwould: be in the two hind leg subdivisions of .tlie outerv skin, and the auxiliarybag: I65 wouldzbeinlthe hea'd sub'division offtheaout'er skin:withthe?snout end" of said bag I B 'atithesnout end? of: saidiheadz subdivision- The air infiation device 2B 25: or: equivalent: could, for instance; and: as shown in Fig; 8; be protruded through a: small; opening left: in the? outer skin 26; thiszopenihgpperhaps;along'one: of the seams hereinahovev mentioned. as interconnecting the: specially patterned? cute piecesi oi? the outer'skin:

With the inner'skinz I 5;. I 6: inside the toy; as completed; and"withtsaidinnerskinfullydnflated; so that, despite the; fact. that a;life-1ike: fully three-dimensional replica off a bear." is; had yet. with. such aminexpensivesaiit container ineorpo' rated as onetcomprisedrrpreferably, of tWOrlnOldfid:

. bags, the: sound: producing; means; I 9: will= be 1 3.0:"

tuated; following a; compression: cramp part1 oi the: torso, anypartxof-tthe? head; or? any-partsofi any of: the? arms: or. legs: to: anextent; to. eiffeot; even: a:; fairly slight: temporary. localized: deiore dimensionalinormally maintained. shape:

In a sound producing means suchasthatheree shown: at? It; an? air stream. forced? to: pass therethrough'. in one direction; that is; in .a dowrrward direction in Fig. 8; causes the soun'd:pro"-- duction; whereas an air'streaml forced to pass" throughsaid means in' the opposite direction-issoundless; Thus;- if any part of" the bear other than it's" head is compressed, there will be-no' sound made until such compression isreleased; and until consequently theextra air forced into thebearshead may rush back out'ofthebears head to equalize the air pressure all over the interior" of the bear. Such rush back of air; inother words; actuates the sound production 5, means. If, however, the head of the bear is compressed, the sound producing means will be actuated'as an accompaniment of such compression, because during said compression air will be forced downwardly through the sound producing means. s

A modification of the above described construction is illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 wherein like parts are given the same reference numerals as hereinbefore, with a prime added. The modification consists in replacing the sound producing means NJ with the means l9 illustrated in Figs. 10- and 11, which latter means are adapted to assist in binding the neck portions of the bags l and I6 thereon and also to provide ready accessto the actual'sound productive reed for purposes of adjusting the latter to obtain a desired sound therefrom.

,Referring to Figs. 10 and 11, the means I9 comprises a pair of tubular members 28 and 30, the former being threaded internally as at 3!, and the latter having an externally threaded extension 32 of reduced diameter which is adapted to be screwed into the member 28. As shown, the reduced diameter of extension 32 provides an annular shoulder 33 at the base thereof, said shoulder being adapted to abut the end edge of member 28 when said extension is drawn up in the latter. Member 30 is provided with an internal partition in which is mounted the reed carrier 22'.

The construction is such that when the member 28 is inserted completely within the neck portion l8 of auxiliary bag IS the end of said neck portion is drawn, by its own tension, into engagement with the end edge of the member, and when the member 38 is inserted into the neck portion H of main bag i5 the end edge of said neck portion is drawn into engagement with the annular shoulder 33. Thus, when extension 32 is drawn up in member 28 said neck end portions are tightly gripped between the end edge of member 28, and the annular shoulder 33. This serves not only to securely fasten said neck portions on the members 28 and but also thecompressed end edges of said neck portions provide a washer-like air tight seal between the members.

It will readily be seen that with theconstruction just above described, the reed 2! is readily accessible for adjustment purposes.

It is to be emphasized that the invention is not to be limited to the material herein mentioned as preferred or desirable to be used for the inner skin, as any material suitable for the purpose pursuant to the invention may be used; and, similarly, it is to be emphasized that the invention is not to be limited to the material herein mentioned as preferred or desirable to be used for the outer skin, as any material suitable for the purpose pursuant to the invention maybe used.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An inflatable toy simulative of an actual living creature of the kind having a body and a plurality of body adjuncts, comprising, in combination, a hollow structure having therein a plurality of air-tight chambers and a'passageway between said chambers which is the sole avenue'of air communication therebetween, a sound producingmea'ns actuable by air flowing through said passageway, and, as parts of said hollow structure, an-inner air-tightskin stretchable under inflation and an outer. substantially non-stretchable skin; said chambers beingwithin said inner skin, but the entire interior of said outer skin beinga single chamber, said inner skin having'a principal portion which while predeterminedly confined and while the inner skin is fully inflated establishes a three dimensional replica of the body of said creature, said inner skin also having a plurality of lesser portions variously'extended .from said principal portion and each of which lesser portions while predeterminedly confined and while the inner skin is fully inflated establishes a three dimensional replica of a different one of thebody adjuncts of said creature, said inner skin being made of a main larger bag and a smaller auxiliary bag, each of said bags having a narrow neck portion surrounding an opening to the interior of that has, said sound producing means including a pair of tubular members, one threaded internally and the other having a threaded extension of reduced diameter, said neck portions being stretched over said members with the end edges thereof being drawn by their own tension against the proximate end edges of the members, said extension being drawn up in the other said member with the said end edges of the neck portions being compressed between said members.

2. An inflatable toy simulative of an actual living creature of the kind having a body and a plurality of body adjuncts, comprising, in combination, a hollow structure having therein a plurality of air-tight chambers and a passageway between said chambers which is the sole avenue of air communication therebetween, a sound producing means actuable by air flowing through said passageway, and, as parts of said hollow structure, an inner air-tight skin stretchable under inflation and an outer substantially non-stretchable skin, said chambers being within said inner skin, but the entire interior of said outer skin being a single chamber, said inner skin having a principal portion which while predeterminedly confined and while the inner skin is fully inflated establishes a three dimensional replica of the body of said creature, said inner skin also having a plurality of lesser portions variously extended from said principal portion and each of which lesser portions while predeterminedly confined and While the inner skin is fully inflated establishes a three dimensional replica of a different one of the body adjuncts of said creature, said outer skin being comprised of a plurality of joined specially patterned pieces of sheet material so respectively shaped, dimensioned and arranged that with said inner skin fully inflated the said predetermined confinements of said principal and lesser portions of the inner skin are all efiected by the enclosing outer skin, said inner skin being made of a main larger bag and a smaller auxiliary bag, each of said bags having a narrow neck portion surrounding an opening to the interior of that bag, said sound producing means including a pair of tubular members, one threaded internally and the other having a threaded extension of reduced diameter, said neck portions being stretched over said members with the end edges thereof being drawn by their own tension against the proximateend edges of: the; members, said extension being: drawn; upin the, other said member withthe: said? end: edges: of the; neck ortions. being; compressed between. said: members.

3 An inflatable toy simuiative of an; actual living-creatureof the-type having abody, ahead and a plurality of body' adjuncts; comprising, in combination, apair of one-piece bagsofstretche able material; one forming said head and the other said body=and its adjuncts, a narrow open end-neck portion extending from each said-bag, a first tubular member threaded internally and which is'inserted-completely into a said' neck portion the tension of the latter drawin the ended e thereofinto contact with the end edge of the tubularmember'; a second tubular member having an externally." threaded extension of reduced diameter; all" of' said; second member save said extension being inserted into the-other neck portion so that the end edge of the latter is drawn by; its owntension against the end edge REFERENCES. CITED The following" references are of; record. in thefileof this patent:

UN ITED. STATES PATENTS Number Name Date.v

721-, 9,1-.8,- Gay 3,,19034 133074218: Spencer "a..." June 17,. 1919- 1,483,150 Witten v Feb. 12, 1.92.4 1;510,-,554 Lee Oct. 7, 19-24 13,593240 Caldwell a July 20, 1926 1,725,831 Sherman Aug. 27,1929 

